Here to There and Back Again

In a prologue the author explains how her fact-fiction book is based on her great-great grandfather's 1849 Gold Rush letters.

Against his parents' wishes, Eugene Chase makes plans with boyhood friend Leal to leave Vermont and seek their fortunes in California.  Eugene's sister Hortense understands her oldest brother's desire; and she makes him promise to write letters home, addressed to her.

In March 1849, at nineteen, Eugene leave home for New York City.  Leal is to meet him in St. Louis.  Eugene's Uncle Lucien, who left Derby Line eight years earlier, lends his nephew the money for his adventure.  "The fruits of your journey will reveal themselves in time," he tells Eugene.

From beginning to end, Eugene's journey is long and hard: a journey to a new land and adulthood.  Throughout constant difficulties, Eugene shows courage and endurance.  This is not true of Leal, who is a burden to all in their Pioneer Line company, which includes Judd, an older doctor.  Eventually, Judd asks Eugene to join him for the final 200 miles to California.  At the Carson River, after crossing forty miles of  treacherous desert, the two men leave the company, then later mine gold together.  But the travel West and gold mining leave Judd in weakened health.  He leaves for the East, and Eugene heads farther north for richer gold fields.

In a epilogue, the author recounts that her great-great grandfather earned enough money to pay his passage home by sea, to net a clear one thousand dollars, and to build a fine house in Derby Line, Vermont.